Pipe rotating device for oil wells



Jan. 2, 1951 T. R. MUNSINGER 2,536,458

PIPE ROTATING DEVICE FOR OIL WELLS Filed Nov. 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. 71150002 1?. MU/YS/NGEQ A TTOEWEY Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,536,458 PIPE ROTATING DEVICE FOR OIL WELLS Theodor R. Munsinger, Meeker, 0010. Application November 29, 1948,'Serial No. 62,528

3 Claims. (Cl. 255-35) This invention relates to a pipe rotating device,

exceedingly positive and rapid in operation;

which will not interfere in any way with the usual oil well operations, and which can be quickly and easily brought into and out of position for use.

- Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

- 'In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawin and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the lower portion of a typical oil well derrick, illustrating the invention in place thereon;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved pipe rotating device, illustrating it in position for use;

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof; v

Fig. 4 is a cross-section, taken on the line 4--4,

Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a detail cross section taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 conventional elements-of a drilling ri are designated by numeral as follows: derrick l0, platform ll, rotary table l2, wedges l3, pipe tongs l4, casing l5, and coupling |6.

{The improved pipe rotating device is preferably supported in two parallel channel slide track members I! supported from the derr ck Ill upon suitable bracket members l8 and cross beams l9.

The pine rotating mechanism is mounted on an elongated frame 2!! which is slidably mounted in and between the track members ll. Anti-frictlon rollers may be provided to assist the sliding movement of the frame if found desirable.

Two roller plates 22 and 23 are mounted on and project forward y from the forward extremity of the frame 20, the plate 22 being above and the plate 23 be ng below the frame 2 The plates 22 and 23 are similar in contour and have curved portions extending forwardly on an arc sc as to partially surround the axis of the ca ing IS. A hin e shaft 24 is vert*callv.;.fand rotatably mounted in. the plates 22 and 23" on the center -m -vefas a unit.

2 I line of the frame 26 and casing l5. Upper and lower swinging jaw plates 25 are hingedly inounted on the shaft 24 so that they may swing about the axis of the latter.

Two roller shafts 26 are mounted in the curved portion of the plates 22 and23, and. each carries a friction roller 21 positioned between the two roller plates. Two similar roller shafts 28 are mounted-in the two swinging jaw plates 25, and each carries a friction roller 29 positioned between the two jaw plates. The rollers 21' and 29 may have any desired construction, as illustrated they comprise hub-like cores 48 covered with a suitable friction material, such as rubber, neoprene, canvas, leather, or the like, so that they will frictionally engage the surface of the casing l5. The roller plates 22 and 23 also carry vertical gear shafts 30 positioned between the two roller shafts 26 and between the shafts 24 and 25. The two swinging'jaw plates 25 also carry simi-' larly positioned gear shafts 3|. Each of the gear shafts 3|! and 3| is provided with a pinion gear 33. The p nion gears 33 mesh with drive gears 32 mounted on the cores 48 of the two adjacent friction wheels so as to provide a continuous 'gear train along the plates 22 and 23 and along the jaw plates 25. The two innermost pinion gears 33 mesh with a power gear 34 keyed on the hinge shaft 24 by means of a shaft key 5|. The shaft 24 is driven from a. worm gear 35, which in turn is driven from a worm 36. The worm 36 is mounted on "a worm shaft 31 driven from any suitable drive motor 38 throu h the med um of transmission gears or a transmission chain enclosed in a housing 39. The motor 38 is mounted on the frame 2!! and the shaft 31 is supported in bearings 49 on the frame 2!! so that the entire assemblywill The law lates 25 are swung about the axis of the sha t 4 by means of a ydraulic u ger 40 actuated from a double actlng'hydraulic cylinder 4|. The cylinder 4| is mounted on a hinge pin 42 on the frame 20. and the plunger 4!] is mounted on a hin e shaft 3 extending between the two jaw plates 25. Fluid is admitted to the cylinder 4| through the medium of hydraulic tubes 44.

The frame 20 is moved al ng the track memhers I! by means of a second hydraulic plunger 45 actuated from a second hydraulic cylinder 46 to which fluid is admitted through hydraulic tubes 41. The hydraulic cylinder is mounted on one of the track members "and the plunger 45 connects with a plunger shaft 50 extending between 3 the plates 22 and 23. It will be noted that one side of the channel track structure I 1 is cut away, as shown at 2|, to provide clearance for the mounting of the hinge pin 42 when the plunger .45 is retracted.

by means-of wedges 13., and the length ofcasing.

in the derrick is unloosened from the coupling l6 by means of the tongs I4.

The hydraulic plunger 45 is then actuatedto force the pipe rotating device against the casin as shown in Fig. 2, and the hydraulic plunger 40 is actuated to clamp the rollers 27 and29 tightly against the casing. The motor 38 is: then. started so as to rotate the rollers and spin the suspended length of casing from the coupling IS.

The jaw plates are then opened by actuation of t-he plunger 40; and the device is withdrawnby actuation of the plunger 45 to allow the freed casing to'be swung'to thestored position in the derrick.

It often happens that when the lengths of-drill stem, tubing, or casing, are swung into position over the string, the threads in the couplings will lie-damaged, due to the 'difiiculty of lowering-the lengths accuratel into the coupling. This a damage is avoidedby theuse of the presentinvention, for the device can be installed-sothat when in operatingposition, it willbe concentric with the well string, so that the mere'act' ofswinginga length into the device will automatically center the length :over the coupling so that it can be spun therein. without damage to the threads.

While a specific form of the improvement has beenwdescribediand illustrated herein, it is to be understoodsthat the same may :be varied, within thescope of the appended claims, without? departingjrornthe spirit of the invention;

Having thus described theinvention, what is claimedb'and desired secured by Letters; Patent is:

- 1'. A "pipe'trotatingdevice for use-on oil wells and the likevcomprising: an elongated; horizontal frame; arcuaterollerplates extending from the extremity ofsaid' frame; 'a' vertically positioned center hinge shaft carried by said roller plates; arcuate jaw platesswingingly mounted on. said hingeshaft, said roller-plates and said jaw plates extending partially aboutthe p'ipesto be rotated; rollershafts mounted in said roller plates and in 'rsaid jaw plates in spaced-apart relation; roll-.-

ers carr'ied .by said roller shafts and :adaptedto frictionally engage the pipe; hydraulic" means driven gears mounted on said rollersfor'rotating' thealatter; pinion gears mounted on-said gear shafts in mesh with said driven gears :and intermevzliate. each .pair 101 the latter; a-power gear and the like comprising: an elongated, horizon tal frame, arcuate roller plates extending from. the extremity of said frame; a verticall positioned center hinge shaft carried by said roller plates; arcuate jaw plates swingingly mounted on said hinge shaft, said roller plates and said jaw plates extending partially about the pipe to r0tated;froller shafts mounted in said roller plates and in said jaw plates in spaced-apart relation; rollers carried by said roller shafts and adapted torfrictionally engagethe pipe; hydraulic means connected between said jaw plates and said frame so that when actuated, said means will swing said jaw plates toward the axis of said pipe; gear shafts positioned. intermediate tsaid roller shafts; driven gears mounted onsaid rollzers for rotating the latter; pinion gears mounted on said. gear shafts in mesh with saidsdriyen' gears and intermediate .ea-chv pair of the lattes;

a powergearamounted on said hinge shaft in. mesh with the adjacent pinion gears onsaid roller "plateszand on. said :jawzplates; a drivershaft extending longitudinally of said frame; and means for transmitting the .rotation'oflsaid drive shaft to "said hinge shaft ;to irotatesaid rollers.

3. A pipe rotating device for use on oil wells and the like comprising: an elongated, horizontal frame; arcuate roller plates extendingxfrom the extremity of said frame;v a. vertically positionedcenter hinge shaft carried by said roller plates; arcuate jaw plates swingingly mounted on said hinge shaft, said roller plates and said jaw plates extending partially about the pipe to berotated; roller shafts mounted in said :roller.

plates and in said ,jaw pla-tes in spaced-apart relation; rollers. carriedwby said roller shafts and adapted to frictionally engage the p p means for simultaneously rotating :all of said rollers ;in

a. common direction; track members slidably supporting said frame; and a hydraulicall :actuated plunger connected between said track members and said frame to move the latterlon-a gitudinally in said track members.

THEODOR R. MUNSINGER;-

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oflthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,450,934 Calhoun Oct. 12, 1948 

